Whitby's weathered bones given new home (From The Northern Echo)

Whitby's weathered bones given new home

6:54pm Friday 17th February 2012 in Whitby News By Emily Flanagan, Reporter

A PAIR of iconic weathered whalebones have been given a new lease of life at a luxury hotel.

The bid to find Whitby’s original whalebone arch a new home has been ongoing for a number of years.

It was replaced about ten years ago when the original bones began to decay in its windswept location on West Cliff.

As no home could be found for them, the 19ft bones were then stored at a Whitby firm, Wilf Noble Construction.

Efforts to find them a new home were recently resurrected after the company was given permission to sell them. But its attempt to sell them on eBay was thwarted by regulations regarding the sale of animal matter and endangered species.

But now a new hotel has come to the rescue by providing the ancient bones with a resting place.

Raithwaite Hall, on Sandsend Road, is to put up the arch at its entrance, once it has secured planning permission.

In return, the hotel has made a £1,000 donation to a charity selected by Scarborough Borough Council, which covers the Whitby area.

Paul Ellis, managing director of hotel owners Skelwith Leisure, said: “Whitby’s old whalebones are an extremely important historical artefact.

“We are delighted to be able to give them a new home and put them back on public display so local residents and visitors to the town can see them once again.”

Scarborough Borough Council had received 17 requests from individuals and groups interested in the bones following recently publicity to find them a home. A panel was appointed to look at all the proposals and pick the best.